DEMOCRACY IN NKR IS NATURAL NON-OPPORTUNISTIC CHOICE FOR PEOPLE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.06.2008 19:22 GMT+04:00
One can achieve sustainable democratic development only when the
country itself determines its course taking into account its own
system of values and does not seek for pretexts to be justified in
front of the international structures for non-fulfillment of its
international and legal commitments, according to Nagorno Karabakh’s
Foreign Minister.
"Without going into details on the alleged violation of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity I would like to note that in contemporary
international practice we can observe cases when the country being at
war with another state or having numerous conflicts with its neighbors,
can at the same time pretend to be one of the best democratic states
like Israel, India, etc," Georgy Petrossian said when commenting on
adoption of PACE Resolution 1614 "On the functioning of democratic
institutions in Azerbaijan"
"I wonder whether the presence of political prisoners in the country
is a result of violation of territorial integrity. Is the mass media
suppressed, are the journalists beat up by the same reason? To all
appearance, these questions are rhetorical," he said.
"On the whole, Europe’s position on keeping balanced attitude towards
the Southern Caucasus countries is understandable. At the same time,
it arouses bewilderment that maintenance of this approach as presented
by Azerbaijan passes along the line of cornerstone priorities of the
Council of Europe on which all the European architecture – democracy,
supremacy of law are founded."
"While democracy in the NKR is a natural non-opportunistic choice for
the people of Nagorno Karabakh, which is not appreciated properly by
Europe, in Azerbaijan we observe its convulsive imitation. Within this
context, we would like to advise the Council of Europe to take the
democracy in Azerbaijan and the democratic processes taking place as
a whole in the region most seriously and with all responsibility. We
are convinced that only democratic Azerbaijan can become that neighbor
with whom the Nagorno Karabakh Republic can speak the same language,"
the Minister said.
"The same resolution runs that the PACE takes note of the United
Nations General Assembly Resolution of March 14, 2008. Would you
express your attitude concerning this fact?" he said.
"A day before, Chairman of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
objectively noted that the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi
conflict is outside of the competence of the Council of Europe, it
is dealt with the OSCE Minsk Group. Within this context, it causes
regret that the Council of Europe cites the document, which was not
supported by the Minsk Group co-chair countries. Fixation of the given
formulation in the document of this international organization can only
affect the course of the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi conflict settlement
and does not promote the creation of positive negotiation climate
via dialogue declared by the Council of Europe," Georgy Petrossian
resumed, the NKR MFA press office reported.